It took a few tries but we finally got to Hersheypark, joining Amy’s dad for a day of roller coasters and other rides.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
We were actually supposed to go to Hersheypark last Saturday but the forecast said 60% chance of thunderstorms, so instead we went south to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW) for the day, about a 2h 30m drive. (And we ended up waiting out a bunch of thunderstorms in the parking lot anyway.)
Waffle House
A few things you should know about me and Waffle House:
- I only know about Waffle House because of Homestar Runner.
- The closest Waffle House to me is 30 miles away in Dumfries, Virginia, so I don’t get to eat at Waffle House much, which makes it a momentous event when I do.
- There is a specific terminology for ordering hash browns with toppings. My preference is “Smothered, Covered, Peppered, Capped.”
- You can get a bowl of grits with cheese, eggs, and ground sausage on top. With the hash browns and coffee it’s a complete breakfast.
This particular Waflle House was really just a stopover on our Saturday trip to Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Corpse Flower and Circles
We visited the Botanic Gardens on Sunday in hopes of seeing (and smelling) the famous Titan Arum “corpse flower”. Too late, alas, the flower had wilted and no offensive odors were to be had.
We also ate some grilled bison and salmon with wild rice and orange beets with fennel at Mitsitam Cafe and on the way in to the NMAI I got this photo of the dome:
Nothing I haven’t seen before on countless visits to that museum, but I love those circles.
Caturday!
Martha and Amelia are coming up on ten months of age now. They’re huge compared to when we first got them, and still growing, but cuddly and adorable as always. Pictures follow:
Some light reading on Christianity and homosexuality
Two sets of detailed, probing questions from Alastair Roberts on Christians and homosexuality: for those opposed, and for those who affirm.
Mark Sandlin on the standard go-to bible verses used against homosexuals.
Fred Clark on Peter’s vision of the sheet of unclean animals.
Pretty much anything Jim Somerville has said about the matter.
Chincoteague Again
I stayed on Chincoteague Island back in April for the NASA Social Antares launch event, but didn’t really get to see as much of the scenery as I’d have liked. This summer Amy and I hopped back over to get the full summer beach-and-pony experience for a few days — and break in the new car with a nice trip to the shore.
New Work, New Car
Been about four months now since I left US News, but it hasn’t been all unemployment; I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Tac and Keith on Survos, plus a few other small projects on the side to help make ends meet through the job search.
This week, however, I return to fulltime work with Valador, Inc., doing front end web design for federal government agencies, mostly NASA. I’m passionate about both web design and space, so the professional mix is a dream come true. Also, the office has a classic Doctor Who pinball machine.
Recent Reading
The Prophets of Oak Ridge: three peace activists infiltrate a heavily guarded nuclear weapons facility. (by Dan Zak)
1 billion year old water tastes terrible.
US infrastructure is ill-suited to meeting the needs of an isolated, aging population.
Coffeehouses were the social media of the 1600s.
Saving Superman’s Jewish immigrant creators, Siegel and Shuster.
Open office layouts aren’t great.
Lessons learned from volunteering in prison.
Fourth of July at Southside Park
For the Fourth of July we commemorated our country’s 237th anniversary by going to Southside Park, eating Little League hotdogs, and watching fireworks.
